India tour of England 2014: Sandeep Patil asks team to stay focused

Selection panel Chairman Sandeep Patil said the convincing 95-run win over England has thrilled him and credited the whole team for the stupendous effort. India swamped England by 95 runs to post their first victory at Lord’s in 28 years. “I am thrilled by the victory like everyone else. But this is just the beginning and a lot of work remains to be done,” Patil told.

“We should not get carried away. This is a young team and there is a big challenge especially after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar last year,” he added. The first Test of the five-game series, the first to be played by India in England since 1959, was drawn. Patil did not want to single out an individual for the victory which was only the second for India at Lord’s.

“No, I don’t want to single out anyone. It was a collective effort,” said the former flamboyant middle order batsman. The star performers for India were man of the match Ishant Sharma who ripped apart the England second innings with his bouncers and pace. Opener Murali Vijay anchored the Indian second innings with a patient 95 while Ajinkya Rahane scored a splendid first innings century. Swing bowler Bhuvaneshwar Kumar took a fifer in the first innings and scored runs in both innings and the ebullient Ravindra Jadeja shone with both bat and ball in the second innings.